Ear nut with handles and handle separator

ABSTRACT

An ear-nut or jewelry clasp for gripping a post extending from the back of an earring or other piece of jewelry or ornament. The clasp has an added pair of gripping tabs which are preferably longer and/or wider or otherwise distinctive from the friction fingers which secure the post of the earring. These added gripping tabs facilitate gripping by the user when removing the clasp from the post. To further facilitate the gripping of these tabs, a metal separator in a round shape (or any open-shape that allows it to clear the post with room to spare, such as in the shape of an animal, an oval, a rectangle, square, sphere, or star, etc.) is affixed between the tabs to prevent them from being squeezed together by the pressure of the user&#39;s fingers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

A clasp, such as an ear-nut, for gripping the post of an item which issecured by a post, which passes through a body part, or clothing. Themost common use of such post-mounted items is for earrings intended forpierced ears, but such post-mounting may also be used for brooches,lapel pins, or other jewelry items that are mounted through pieces ofclothing. Nametags and identification badges are similarly mounted. Thusthe term “Jewelry Clasp” as used herein encompasses such uses to theextent permitted by prior art.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ear-carried ornaments or earrings are frequently mounted by means of apost, which projects from the back of the ornament, for passing througha pierced ear lobe or other parts of the ear. Withdrawal of the post isprevented by an ear-nut which is screwed onto a threaded post or slidonto a post which has an outer surface that may be smooth, notched, orringed. Usually such a slide-on ear-nut has a base plate with a centeropening and a pair of bent-out fingers which are rolled into a circularshape to be positioned so that a portion of that circular shape willfrictionally engage the outer surface of a jewelry post when the post ispushed through the center opening in the base plate. When removing thejewelry or ornament the ear-nut must first be slid off the post withsufficient force to overcome the engagement friction. In order to gripthe ear-nut for removal, the user will usually, perhaps inadvertently,grasp the pair of circular rolled fingers mentioned above. Therein liesthe problem; these rolled fingers are difficult to grip and, the tighterone squeezes them, the greater is the engagement friction to beovercome. Thus there is a long felt need for an easier way to grip anear-nut for removal from a post of a piece of jewelry or ornament.

The original ear-nut with handles (patent application serial #09800828)had a pair of friction fingers which could be slid or screwed onto andoff a jewelry post in the usual manner, but also incorporated two addedrearward projecting gripping tabs, which were not connected to thefriction fingers. When the user gripped these tabs, engagement frictionwas not increased, since these gripping tabs were independent of thosefriction fingers used to secure the jewelry post. However, it wassubsequently found that if too much force was applied, the rearwardprojecting gripping tabs could easily be squeezed together, thus makingthe original ear-nut with handles less easy to manipulate. The ear-nutwith handles and handle separator addresses this problem by adding ametal separator of a round (or any open) shape, (such as an oval,square, rectangle, in the shape of an animal, star, or ball) providingthe contemplated shape prevents the gripping tabs from being pressedtogether by the pressure of the user's fingers, and does not interferewith the engagement of the post and the friction fingers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a jewelry clasp such as an ear-nut which has atypical pair of rolled fingers which allow it to be screwed or slid ontoand off a jewelry post in the usual manner. This clasp also has twoadded rearward projecting gripping tabs which are not connected to thefriction fingers, and so allow the user to separate the jewelry postfrom the clasp without increasing the engagement friction. Thesegripping tabs are preferably longer and/or wider than the frictionfingers so a user can readily find them, even when unseen behind theear. These gripping tabs may be of any shape such as oval, square,rectangular, U-shaped, or round, as long as they are longer and/or widerthan the gripping fingers. Additionally, this new version of the ear-nutfeatures a round (or any open shape that clears the post, including forexample the shape of an animal, a rectangle or square, a star, etc.)metal separator attached between the two gripping tabs, which keepsthese tabs from being squeezed together. This round or any open-shapedseparator that clears the post may be separately cast and then solderedonto the ear-nut, or the ear-nut which incorporates the separator may bestamped as one piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical prior art jewelry clasp forpost-mounted earrings or ornaments.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention showing the grippingtabs.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the jewelry clasp shown in FIG. 2 showing themetal separator.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the jewelry clasp of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the jewelry clasp of FIGS. 2-4.

FIG. 6 is a method view from the side of the jewelry clasp of FIGS. 2-5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For a better understanding of the problem of removing prior art ear-nutor jewelry clasps, one need only review FIG. 1. Rolled fingers 12 extendfrom base plate 26 and frictionally engage post 14 at area 16.Frequently area 16 has a notch or a plurality of circumferential ringson post 14 so as to increase the frictional engagement of fingers 12against post 14 by screwing the threaded post 14 through an appropriatehole taking the place of hole 28. Frequently a user will attempt removalby gripping outer surfaces 13 and 15 of fingers 12. But such grippingonly compounds the problem because the tighter one squeezes, the greaterthe engagement friction at area 16, and the tighter fingers 12 grip post14. Additionally, fingers 12 are delicate, small, and smooth, whichmakes it difficult for a user to get a firm grip on them. It would bebetter for the user to grip base plate 26 by, for example, getting afingernail under the base plate, but in the case of short finger nailsor a base plate that presses tightly against the ear, this can alsoprove very difficult to do.

Instead of this self-defeating gripping, the present invention providesuser gripping tabs 22 as shown in FIGS. 2-5. The present invention has abase plate 26 having a pair of spring biased friction fingers 12 whichare rolled in the conventional manner into two curved ends which projectbelow opening 28 in base plate 26. When a jewelry post 14 is insertedthrough opening 28, the fingers 12 will frictionally engage post 14 inthe usual manner. However, in the present invention, instead ofattempting to grip fingers 12 when one seeks to remove the clasp orear-nut, the user may grip gripping tabs 22. Gripping tabs 22 are notdirectly connected to fingers 12 and, as a result, inward pressure ongripping tabs 22 does not affect the friction engagement between fingers12 and post 14, and the clasp or ear-nut is thus made easier to remove,without compromising the security of connection between the ear-nut andthe earring post 14. Although gripping tabs 22 preferably have a smooth,polished surface that complements the entire jewelry piece, grippingtabs 22 also incorporate an indent and outward bend 24 as visible inFIGS. 2 and 4. This shaping of the gripping tabs 22 makes gripping mucheasier for the user. Gripping tabs 22 may be circular with a centerindent as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, rectangular, U-shaped, or of anothershape suitable for gripping.

A metal separator of a round or any open shape 40 is affixed betweengripping tabs 22 to keep the gripping tabs 22 from being squeezedtogether by the user's fingers. This round, or any shape, metalseparator, may be stamped as one piece, and may also be cast separatelyand soldered with hard solder. Other methods of attaching the metalseparator 40 may also be contemplated, and the metal separator 40 mayalso be affixed to an ear-nut or ear-nut with handles which features astabilizing mechanism. The separator 40 is especially helpful in thecase of ear-nuts made from lighter materials, such as thin gold. In FIG.2, the view of the metal wire separator is obscured by gripping tabs 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the friction fingers 12 are preferably positioneddiametrically opposite each other at the twelve o'clock and six o'clockpositions. The gripping tabs 22 are preferably positioned diametricallyopposite each other at the nine o'clock and three o'clock positions. Themetal separator 40 joins with gripping tabs 22 at two opposite points,thus creating a barrier between each gripping tab 22 which prevent thegripping tabs 22 from being squeezed together.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the ear-nut in which the metal separator 40is visible, and is suspended by its attachment to gripping tabs 22 at apoint on each of the tabs 22 that allows the metal separator 40 to clearthe post 14 of the earring to which the ear-nut will be attached.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the ear-nut and again illustrates how metalseparator 40 is attached at two points to gripping tabs 22. Also visiblehere are friction engagement fingers 12, and the base 26 of the ear nut.If a post 14 were inserted into the ear-nut through hole 28 (not herevisible) of base plate 26, said post 14 would then be visible throughthe central gap in the separator 40, and in between friction fingers 12.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the ear-nut in which base plate 26 isclearly visible. FIG. 5 illustrates how opening 28, preferably centrallylocated in base plate 26, preferably has a funnel shaped centerdepression 30 which facilitates threading or sliding of said post 14into opening 28. Opening 28 and post 14 may also be manufactured so thatthe post 14 is threaded, and then screwed into opening 28 to furtherincrease the security of the joining of post 14 and the ear-nut.

Gripping tabs 22 visible in FIGS. 2-4 preferably project away from baseplate 26 a greater distance than fingers 12 and/or are also wider thanfingers 12 so that it is easier to find the gripping tabs 22 to ensuretheir use in clasp or ear-nut removal. Their larger size also makes themeasier to grip, particularly when the indentation 24 is present. Forconvenience in manufacture, both fingers 12 and gripping tabs 22 may bean integrated part of base plate 26, with the base plate first beingflat with four projections which are subsequently bent to form fingers12 and gripping tabs 22. However, it is also contemplated that fingers12 and/or gripping tabs 22 could be later secured, as by jeweler'ssolder, to base plate 26.

FIG. 6 shows a method view from the side of the ear-nut shown in FIGS.2-5. In this view, post 14 of earring 41 is pushed through a hole in anearlobe. The user places a finger and a thumb, for example, on grippingtabs 22, and slides post 14 through hole 28 (not visible) and in betweenfriction fingers 12 in order to secure earring 41. The metal separator40 prevents gripping tabs 22 from being pushed together, thus increasingthe ease with which earring 41 is attached and later removed from thesecuring ear-nut.

Additional variations of the inventive ear-nut are also possible andcontemplated that will fall within the spirit and scope of thisinvention as further defined by the claims that follow.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. An ear nut comprising: a. a base plate having anopening for receiving a post of an earring; b. first and second frictionfingers for gripping the earring post, said gripping fingers extendingfrom substantially opposing positions on said base plate; c. first andsecond gripping tabs, wherein: i. each of said tabs being a singlestrut, each tab having a first end connected to said base plate, onsubstantially opposing positions of said base plate, offset from saidfriction fingers; ii. each of said tabs having a second end extendingaway from said first end; and d. a separator attached to the second endof each of said tabs, said separator having a shape that clears the postof an earring.
 20. The ear nut of claim 19, where said opening in saidbase plate having a funnel shaped depression.
 21. The ear nut of claim20, where said opening in said base plate being threaded to receive athreaded post.
 22. The ear nut of claim 20, where each of said frictionfingers having two curved projections extending toward said base plateopening.
 23. The ear nut of claim 22, where each of said gripping tabshaving rectangular or circular cross section, wherein the crosssectional area of each tab is smaller than or equal to the crosssectional area of said friction fingers.
 24. The ear nut of claim 23,where the length of said gripping tabs being dependent on the materialof said gripping tabs.
 25. The ear nut of claim 24, where said separatorhaving a circular or oval shape.
 26. The ear nut of claim 24, where eachof said base plate, said friction fingers, said gripping tabs, and saidseparator being stamped from the same material, whereby beinginterconnected.
 27. The ear nut of claim 24, where each of said baseplate, said friction fingers, said gripping tabs, and said separatorbeing cast separately, where said separator being soldered to said tabs,and where said tabs and said fingers being soldered to said base plate.28. The ear nut of claim 24, where said friction fingers, said grippingtabs and said separator being wire formed, where said separator beingsoldered to said gripping tabs, and where said tabs and fingers beingsoldered to said base plate.
 29. The ear nut of claim 24, where thelength of each of said tabs being essentially equal, the length of eachof said tabs projecting beyond said friction fingers.
 30. The ear nut ofclaim 24, where said separator being capable of preventing said tabsfrom being squeezed together by a grip of a user.
 31. The ear nut ofclaim 24, where said opening in said base plate being smooth to receivea smooth post.
 32. The ear nut of claim 24, where said tabs having asurface capable of being gripped, said surfaces being smooth, fluted,corrugated, hatched or being a raised stippled surface.
 33. The ear nutof claim 23, where the second end of each tab extending away from saidfirst end in a substantially indented, curved or straight line.